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October 2019

Who'll be my GP?

Navan is growing and we therefore expect more homes, more road traffic, shops become busier, car parking will become more challenging and school places more of a lottery. There's one health service which is already becoming difficult to obtain.

UPDATE 24/06/20

Doctor on Call has returned to Navan from Dunshaughlin.

Please note that it is an appointment only service via 1850 777 911 at the new location at Academy Square. see Meath Chronicle Article

PREVIOUS UPDATE 18/10/19

Reported in the Meath Chronicle (P13, Sat 19th Oct 2019) the North East Doctor On Call Service currently at Navan Hospital will be temporarily relocating to Dunshughlin Health Care Unit for six months from November to Spring 2020. This will facilitate updating the portacabin which has been in use for the past 19yrs.

NEDOC will eventually have a new premise in Moatlands but this is still at the planning stage.

As we head into winter will colds, flu's, coughs & chest infections cause chaos?

New families are finding it difficult to join a GP's Surgery since many closed their books months ago and are not taking on new patients. Many of us are already finding it difficult to see a doctor on the day we're sick and visiting 'Doctor on Call' was meant for urgent out of hours treatment,

What's changed ?

It would appear that there are just a few key reasons the profession is in crisis.

During the recession the Government made up to 40% funding cuts to GPs which has not been reversed.
The increased demand for Free medical care together with GP's managing more chronic disease has added to the demand for appointments.
With the age profile of GP's being high we will see a significant number retiring in the coming years.
With no financial incentive to cover their business costs it's no surprise that the younger generation are looking elsewhere where they could earn more with less workload.

How to cure the problem?

Having spoken to a few Doctors they have mentioned:

The Government needs to encourage more people to join the profession.
There's opportunities to set up a practice in Meath.
The Government needs to reverse the funding cuts before the system is truly broken.
Student Funding to encourage new surgery openings since starting a business with a student debts and knowing that they're going to struggle each day to stay in business is not going to work.